The Biography and Typography of William Caxton, England's First Printer

Trübner & Co, London, first edition, 1877. Paper covered boards in imitation of decorated leather, marbled endpapers, top edge marbled, 8vo,. viii, 383 pp, 18 plates, facs. A scholarly biography of Caxton in Part One is followed by a detailed bibliography in Part Two (pp 165-369) , in which Caxton's printed books are classified from Type No.1 to Type No. 6, and much typographical information is given. There is also a listing of doubtful works. Blades, a printer himself, succeeds in imparting a lot of technical information in very readable form. Indexed. Bigmore & Wyman: "This ..traces Caxton's history and the influence which surrounded him in youth and manhood. It shows why he became a printer and of whom he learnt the art, There is a minute account of Caxton's printing - office and the typographical habits of his workmen. His types are classified, and their chronological sequence shown, and the great advantage, bibliographically speaking, to be derived fom their systematic study. All the books at present known to have issued from his press are described, and remarks made upon them, various minor matters being also treated. This edition was produced in connection with the Caxton Celebration, held in London in June, 1877 commemoration of the Quarcentenary of Printing in England. Slight wear to head and tail of spine, rear board a little fingermarked, a Good bright copy.